Argyranthemum plant named ‘Bonmadepi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Argyranthemum  plant named ‘Bonmadepi’, characterized by its single type lavender pink-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage; and vigorous, compact, and upright-mounded growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Argyranthemum×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Bonmadepi’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofArgyranthemum plant botanically known as Argyranthemum×hybrida andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Bonmadepi’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in YellowRock, New South Wales, Australia during October 2003. The objective ofthe breeding program was the development of Argyranthemum cultivars thatare freely flowering with unique flower coloration and a freelybranching, compact, and upright growth habit.

The new Argyranthemum cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. Thefemale (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietaryArgyranthemum×hybrida breeding selection designated 03-166, notpatented, characterized by its single type deep pink colored flowers,medium green-colored foliage, and mounded with open center growth habit.The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietaryArgyranthemum×hybrida breeding selection designated 03-184, notpatented, characterized by its single type light pink-colored flowers,medium green-colored foliage, and mounded growth habit. The new cultivarwas discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within theprogeny of the above stated cross-pollination during May 2004 in acontrolled environment at Yellow Rock, New South Wales, Australia.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceMay 2004 at Yellow Rock, New South Wales, Australia and West Chicago,Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type withall of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed andretained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Bonmadepi’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Argyranthemum plant:

-   -   1. Single type lavender pink-colored flowers;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Vigorous, compact, and upright-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in flower color and from plants of the male parent primarilyin flower color.

Of the many commercially available Argyranthemum cultivars known to theinventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is MissPink ‘Supasat’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,442. However, in side by sidecomparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Supasat’in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a ray floret color different        from plants of ‘Supasat’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar are wider than plants of        ‘Supasat’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have more inflorescences than        plants of ‘Supasat’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Bonmadepi’. Theplants were grown in 4.5 inch pots for 10 weeks in a greenhouse at WestChicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Bonmadepi’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of‘Bonmadepi’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined on Jul. 11, 2006 between 9:00a.m. and 11:00 a.m. under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a glass-coveredgreenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercialpractice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5 inch potsfor 10 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatureswere maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.)during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.)during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000footcandles were maintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Argyranthemum×hybrida cultivar Bonmadepi.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Argyranthemum×hybrida breeding            selection designated 03-166, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Argyranthemum×hybrida breeding            selection designated 03-184, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 8 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Crop time.—Approximately 6 to 9 weeks from a rooted cutting.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous, compact, and            upright-mounded.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 24.6 cm. Width: Approximately 22.9 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Quantity of main branches            per plant: Approximately 6.        -   Branch.—Strength: Strong. Length from soil level to base of            peduncle: Approximately 10.9 cm. Diameter: Approximately            2.8 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 7.9 mm.            Texture: Glabrous. Color of young stem: Glaucous, 144C.            Color of mature stem: Glaucous, 144C with woody base of            N199B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 14. Fragrance: Slight. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Alternate.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem; leaf blade obtuse angle            to stem with age. Shape: Obovate. Margin: Parted. Apex:            Acute, cuspidate. Base: Attenuate, decurrent. Venation            pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately            5.5 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 3.5 cm. Texture            of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper            surface of young foliage: 144A with venation of 144A. Color            of lower surface of young foliage: 144B with venation of            144B. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: Glaucous,            137A with venation of 137A. Color of lower surface of mature            foliage: 137C with venation of 137C.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Bonmadepi’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the            plant.—Approximately 7 to 8 days.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Solitary, composite. Persistent.            Shape: Round. Aspect: Facing upward and outward.            Arrangement: Terminal, positioned above the foliage. Disc            and ray florets develop acropetally on a capitulum. Average            quantity per plant: Approximately 18. Diameter:            Approximately 3.5 cm. Fragrance: None.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, pliable. Aspect: Erect. Length:            Approximately 8.9 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.            Texture: Glabrous. Color: Glaucous, 144B.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 6 to 7 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Average            quantity per plant: Approximately 1.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovoid. Diameter:            Approximately 6.3 mm. Color: 155D.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 18.            Arrangement: Nonimbricate in a single whorl. Aspect:            Slightly convex, turning downward with age. Shape: Ligulate.            Margin: Entire. Apex: Emarginate with 3 tips. Base:            Attenuate, fused to form a tube. Length: Approximately            1.5 cm. Width: Approximately 3.2 mm. Texture of upper            surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Glabrous,            ribbed. Color of upper surface when first open: 155D with a            strong overlay of N74A. Color of lower surface when first            open: 155D with a faint overlay of N74B. Color of upper            surface when fully open: 155D with a strong overlay of N74C.            Color of lower surface when fully open: 155D with a faint            overlay of N74D.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 99.            Arrangement: Massed in center of inflorescence. Shape:            Tubular with 4 lobes. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base:            Truncate. Length: Approximately 6.0 mm. Diameter at apex:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately            1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous with glandular pubescence on lower            half. Gland color: Colorless. Color when fully open: 14B            transitioning to base of 144D.        -   Disc.—Diameter: Approximately 1.3 cm. Depth: Approximately            7.7 mm.        -   Receptacle.—Shape: Cone. Height: Approximately 3.0 mm.            Diameter at base: Approximately 4.0 mm. Color: 150C.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 21.            Arrangement: Imbricate, in several whorls. Shape:            Lanceolate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate.            Length: Approximately 4.3 mm. Width: Approximately 2.3 mm.            Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous, papery along            edges. Color of upper surface: 143A in center with            transparent margins of N199B. Color of lower surface:            Closest to 143B in center with transparent margins of N199B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Stamen quantity: 4 per floret. Stamen length:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther shape: Linear. Anther length:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color: 14A. Pollen amount:            Sparse. Pollen color: 14C. Gynoecium: Present on ray and            disc florets. Pistil quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil length:            Approximately 6.0 mm. Stigma shape: Two-parted. Stigma            length: Less than 1 mm. Stigma color: 14B. Style length:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Style color: 1D, transparent. Ovary            length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary color: Colorless,            transparent.

Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has beenobserved.

Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common toArgyranthemum has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Argyranthemum plant name ‘Bonmadepi’,substantially as herein shown and described.